Mayor Adams Announces new Suite of Benefits to Help Make it Easier for New York City Employees to Build a Family

October 28, 2024

Video available at: https://youtu.be/5MmIC4ZxuCw

New York City to Become First Big City in Nation to Provide “Family Building Benefits” of Up to $10,000 for Costs Associated with Adoption, Surrogacy, and Eggs and Sperm Donation for Non-Union Employees. 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, New York City Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion, and New York City Councilmember Lynn Schulman today announced a new suite of employee benefits to increase access and support for tens of thousands of city workers in building a family. Now, members of the “Management Benefits Fund” — which provides benefits to approximately 27,000 non-union employees and retirees — will be eligible for “Family Building Benefits” that provide up to $10,000 in reimbursement for costs associated with adoption, surrogacy, and egg or sperm donation. This marks the first time a major U.S. city has provided these benefits to city employees and is similar to benefits increasingly being provided by private-sector companies and universities.  

“To be the greatest city in the world, you have to attract and retain the greatest talent in the world, and that means making New York City the best city in the nation to build and raise a family,” said Mayor Adams. “Our administration continues to put working people first, and today’s announcement is another example of how we are making it easier for families to afford to grow and live here. With this new benefit, we are giving up to $10,000 to reimburse costs for non-union employees associated with adoption, surrogacy, and egg or sperm donation — making New York City the first major U.S. city to provide this benefit to their employees and helping employees across city government build the families they want. Our mission is to make New York City a more affordable, and safe city, and this announcement is yet another historic example of how we are delivering on that mission.”

“Today, we are taking a pathbreaking step forward in supporting our city’s workforce and fostering family growth,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “With the introduction of ‘Family Building Benefits,’ the Adams administration is proud to lead the nation in helping non-union city employees pay for adoption, surrogacy, and donation processes. This expanded benefit strengthens our commitment to our employees, helps us retain and attract top talent, and reflects our dedication to inclusivity. We are building a city that prioritizes families and setting new standards for support and inclusivity in the workplace.”  

“Building a family is one of life’s greatest gifts,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “With today’s announcement, we align New York City with those corporations offering similar benefits and become the first major city to do so. We are making city service more competitive with other fields so we can attract and retain the best workforce possible, all the while extending opportunities for more people to live out their life aspirations away from the office by starting and nurturing a family.” 

“There can be a lot of challenges for New Yorkers who are starting or growing their family, but it helps to know that your employer is on your side,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart. “I am proud to join Mayor Adams in announcing this nation-leading benefit under the city’s Management Benefits Fund and to ensure that New York City continues to lead the nation in how we support our non-union employees.”

“The Management Benefits Fund has always focused on providing valuable benefits to our non-union employees,” said New York City Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion. “I am proud we are able to add this benefit, which will provide assistance to employees who may be struggling to build a family, including LGBTQ+ employees.” “Reproductive freedom includes the ability to determine when and whether to have a child,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “Everyone should have the power and resources to build a family if they choose. New York City is taking this historic step in providing adoption and reproductive resources for thousands of city employees.”

“The NYC Unity Project commends the extraordinary outcomes of this collaborative effort. Today's announcement marks a significant advancement in supporting our city's workforce,” said NYC Unity Project Director Ronald Porcelli. “By implementing these benefits, we recognize the diverse paths to family growth and ensure that a segment of city employees have the resources they need to create the families they desire. This policy will support employees across city government, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. Ultimately, this effort not only enhances the lives of New York City's municipal workers, but also strengthens our entire community.”

“The City of New York’s commitment to offering a new suite of family-building benefits is a heartening step for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, not only supporting gay men who have trouble accessing IVF benefits, but also a segment of employees who face barriers in building their families,” said New York City Mayor’s Office LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group Chair Brady Hamed. “By providing access to fertility services, adoption, and surrogacy for non-union employees, this makes the Mayor’s Office and city government a more inclusive workplace that supports all of our coworkers, including our LGBTQ+ colleagues, in building a thriving family.”

“Building a family is very important to many New Yorkers,” said New York City Councilmember Lynn Schulman, chair, Health Committee. “That is why today marks a transformative moment for our city’s workforce and families. By offering 'Family Building Benefits' of up to $10,000 for costs related to adoption, surrogacy, and egg and sperm donation, New York City is leading the way in supporting our employees during one of the most significant journeys of their lives. This initiative not only affirms our commitment to fostering family growth for all, but also positions New York City as a pioneer in equitable and inclusive employee benefits. Every individual and couple, including those who are LGBTQ+, deserve the opportunity and resources to build a family. I am very proud to take this positive life-changing step forward, together with Mayor Adams and his team.”

While New York City’s Health Benefits Program currently provides coverage for fertility treatments, including up to three cycles of in-vitro fertilization, for employees and their covered beneficiaries, services such as surrogacy and sperm/egg donation involving individuals not covered by an employee’s health insurance benefits are not included, and there is no benefit to defray the costs of adopting a child. To ensure that more New York City employees have the resources they need to start a family, the Adams administration established this benefit for both employees and retirees who are members of the Management Benefits Fund.

This benefit will provide up to $10,000 in reimbursement for costs such as adoption agency fees, legal fees associated with adoption or surrogacy, fees to a surrogate, costs of transferring an embryo to a surrogate, costs an employee incurs for medical costs of the surrogacy, and costs of procuring donor sperm or eggs. The policy will help employees across city government, including those that are members of the LGBTQ+ community and their families.

This announcement builds on Mayor Adams’ actions to support working families by expanding paid parental leave and family leave for non-union city employees. Earlier this year, the administration doubled paid parental leave for non-union employees, from six to 12 weeks, and provided up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for those caring for seriously ill family members. The administration’s expansion of paid parental and family leave impacts over 10,000 municipal employees and makes the City of New York more competitive with municipalities and private-sector employers across the country — taking steps to advance Mayor Adams’ ambitious goal of making New York City the most women-forward city in the United States. This adds to the administration’s release of “Women Forward NYC: An Action Plan for Gender Equity,” a more-than-$43 million investment aimed at making New York City a national leader on gender equity, including for transgender and gender expansive New Yorkers.

New York City earned the highest score of 100 points from the 2023 Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index, which measures the extent to which cities across America have embraced LGBTQ+ inclusivity within their laws, policies, and services. New York City has earned this top score for more than a decade, since 2012. Only 25 percent of more than 500 evaluated cities achieve this distinction. 

“PFLAG NYC is deeply encouraged to see this pioneering benefit initiative,” said Melissa D’Andrea Sullivan, executive director, PFLAG NYC. “It is a meaningful step toward family equality. Providing resources for adoption, surrogacy, and other options is essential for LGBTQ+ families, who have historically lacked this support. This action by New York City demonstrates a commitment to creating a future where every family is valued and empowered.” 

“Mayor Adams’ groundbreaking announcement of Family Building Benefits for city employees is a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and all families who face barriers in building their families,” said Dr. David Kilmnick, founder and president, LGBT Network. “By providing coverage for adoption, surrogacy, and fertility services, New York City is not just making a policy change – it's making a powerful statement that all paths to parenthood are valid and worthy of support. As someone who has worked with countless LGBTQ+ individuals and couples who have struggled with the astronomical costs of building their families, I know firsthand how life-changing this $10,000 benefit will be. This progressive policy removes significant financial barriers and sends a clear message that New York City stands with all families, regardless of how they're created. Once again, New York City is leading the way in LGBTQ+ inclusion and family equality, and we commend Mayor Adams and his administration for this historic initiative.”

“Creating a family is a cherished act among all populations and has been particularly challenging for LGBTQ communities”, said Carmen Neely, founder and president, Harlem Pride. “Insurance coverage for IVF and other procedures has not been comprehensive, and the costs to those in our community, as well as others, have been largely prohibitive. This new suite of benefits helps remedy some of these issues. Providing $10,000 in reimbursement for costs associated with adoption, surrogacy, and egg or sperm donation will certainly aid those who seek to create families in non-traditional ways and will lower barriers to access for many. I applaud New York City's continued efforts to improve the lives of its citizens.” 

“For my wife and me, being able to start our own family was the most beautiful and loving moment of our lives,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO, GLAAD. “Everyone should be able to form their own families, on their terms, including LGBTQ people. At a time when anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation is at an all-time high, it is heartening to see the City of New York prioritizing access for adoption, surrogacy, and IVF. Love makes a family, but we need access too.” 

“Building a family often looks different for LGBTQ+ people and on average has a higher fiscal cost,” said Amanda Babine, executive director, Equality New York. “This new suite of employee benefits focused on family building will help with some of the barriers we see queer and transgender people encounter when creating family. Currently, there are thousands of LGBTQ+ children in the child welfare system who are open to adoption, this benefit can help potential parents help find them homes. We are thrilled to see that New York City continues to be a leader in progressive policies and resources.” 

“I am proud to help launch the ‘Family Building Benefits’ package, standing up to the nationwide assault on family planning choices,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “We will provide city employees with the benefits they need to make the right family planning decisions. Under this program, tens of thousands of members of the Management Benefits Fund will be eligible for up to $10,000 for costs related to adoption, surrogacy, and egg or sperm donation. This historic program makes us the first major city to provide these benefits to a segment of municipal employees, a testament to our dedication to the welfare and dignity of labor.”

“Today’s announcement is an exciting promise for city workers who are planning to build new and growing families,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “As a dad who’s spent most of my career in city government, it warms my heart to see efforts to bring down the cost-prohibitive barriers of family building for the workers that help our city run. Thank you to Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom, Commissioner Renee Campion, and Councilmember Lynn Schulman for these expanded benefits for families working for the City.” 

“The dream of a starting family can be difficult one to achieve for many, especially for those facing financial concerns,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “The new suite of benefits announced today will ease those financial concerns for many city employees and retirees who want to build a family. The city deserves to be commended for taking the lead on this issue by being the first major U.S. city to offer such benefits.”

“This is a tremendous step forward, and this coverage will be a game-changer for couples like my husband and me as we all consider our own family planning needs," said New York City Councilmember David Carr. "I want to thank my colleague, Lynn Schulman, for all of her advocacy on this and the mayor for acting to resolve this issue.”

“As the city seeks to diversify and retain talent in its municipal workforce, it must offer competitive benefits that sustain working families and those hoping to establish families,” said New York City Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa, chair, Committee on Civil Service and Labor. “Access to reproductive healthcare is a crucial component in keeping our workers safe and supported as they establish roots in our city.”
 

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